I graduate next week; I still cannot believe it! During the basic sciences, there were so many times that I was unsure of this journey. I really struggled with all the memorizing and learning we had to do. I am a very critical thinker, and some of the stuff we were learning was difficult for me to grasp. Then came the clinical sciences, and I knew I had chosen the right path. I loved clinically applying all the information I had learned the previous two years. It suddenly all made sense to me!

Just when things were going great, COVID hit. I was then worried about my graduation date being delayed if we were forced to take time off. I also worried about getting all the required patient visits in while doing my clinical internship. However, it all worked out. I continue to be thankful to the many friends and family members that supported me on this journey, the ones that pushed me to keep going when I wanted to quit. I am thankful to the professors and administrators that were always there to listen or help with information I was having a difficult time processing. I’m thankful for the many hugs Dr. Darby gave me, often when I needed them most. I am thankful to Dr. Bose for helping to get me to the finish line a little earlier than expected, which has been super helpful in packing up my apartment.

Speaking of my apartment, I am thankful for my on-campus apartment! It was so helpful being able to walk to class and clinic without ever having to worry about dangerous road conditions. My dog Lily liked it as well, because it enabled me to run home during breaks to walk her.

I am getting asked a lot about what my plans are after graduation. All I will say is that I will be spending 16 months outside of the country, learning more about medicine, and enjoying the beach. I seriously cannot wait!

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